NORMAN, Okla. - University of Oklahoma Vice President/Athletics Director Joe Castiglione and head softball coach Patty Gasso announced the Sooners' 2010 softball schedule on Friday afternoon. The slate features 21 NCAA Tournament teams from a year ago and 18 home games.

"As usual, we have another very demanding schedule. We wouldn't have it any other way," said Gasso. "We will be road tested early as we open our season against two of the nation's top teams in Michigan and Tennessee.

"Our schedule only gets more challenging with five Pac-10 teams, but it's our belief that a tough road schedule makes for a tough team. We enjoy those opportunities. Our fans will be treated to some exciting Big 12 home games as we open with Missouri and have a big home series against Texas. This team is anxious to get the season started."

Oklahoma opens 2010 on the road at Dot Richardson's National Collegiate Softball Invitational in Orlando, Fla. The Sooners take on UCF, Florida Atlantic and Chattanooga with Michigan and Tennessee bookending the tournament. OU returns home to face St. Gregory's in a tuneup for the Louisville Slugger Desert Classic in Las Vegas. In the desert, Oklahoma faces Cal State Fullerton, Northwestern, Boise State, California and Long Beach State. The Sooners close out the first month at the Cathedral City Classic in Cathedral City, Calif. Highlighting OU's line up is a matchup with defending national champion Washington. Also on the agenda are Pacific, UNLV, Oregon State and a second game against Northwestern.

The Sooners start March at home with the first of a home-and-home series with Tulsa. Oklahoma then joins in-state rival Oklahoma State as headliners during The Preview featuring Bedlam. OU's opening game is in Norman Friday evening against Nevada. Saturday's games move to Oklahoma City's Hall of Fame stadium with the Sooners and Cowgirls scheduled to face off in a non-conference matchup at 3 p.m. OU then takes on Louisville at 5 p.m. On Sunday, the Sooners close out the event with another game against the Cardinal in the first of a six-game homestand.

Staying home for the next five games, the Sooners welcome North Texas then Utah and Northern Iowa for the Oklahoma Spring Festival. Heading west for the final non-conference tournament of the season, OU travels to Fullerton, Calif. for the Judi Garman Classic. Prior to Oklahoma's opening game at the Garman, the Sooners make a stop in Northridge to play Cal State Northridge. At the Garman, OU meets up with Utah, Arizona State, Arizona, Virginia and San Jose State. The Sooners travel to Tulsa and Arkansas before closing out March with Missouri to begin conference play at home.

Hitting the road for the next five, Oklahoma travels to Iowa State, Oklahoma State and Texas A&M to begin April. OU returns home to take on Texas Tech followed by archrival Texas. The Sooners' April 18 matchup with the Longhorns is scheduled to air nationally on ESPN. The Sooners then travel to Baylor and Nebraska before closing out the month at home against Oklahoma State. OU closes out conference play in early May with Kansas and travels to North Texas to close out the regular season.

The 2010 Big 12 Softball Championship is scheduled for May 14-16 at Hall of Fame Stadium. NCAA Regional play is slated to take place May 21-23 with Super Regional action scheduled for May 28-30. The 2010 NCAA Division I Women's College World Series will be held in Oklahoma City June 2-9.

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